Shoe-fastening device.



No. 773,672. PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

G. E. PEIRGE. SHOE FASTENING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT FFICE.

SHOE-FASTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 773,672, dated November 1, 1904. Application filed February 10, 1904. Serial No. 192,893. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. PEIROE, a resident of Edgewood, in the township of Granston, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fastening Devices; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of' reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to fastening devices which are more particularly adapted to serve in the capacity of a buckle for overshoes, arctics, and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple, effective, and inexpensive fastening device which will enable the ready attaching and detaching of its two members.

The essential feature of the invention, however, is to produce a fastening device which will offer no ends, points, or corners onto which a ladys dress may catch, as the catching of the skirt on the shoe-buckle is a great annoyance to ladies, as it oftentimes tears the skirt or in trying to detach the same the buckle becomes unclasped. v

Another feature of my device is that it has a positive lock and cannot be unclasped either by pulling or pushing on the two parts, except when the lock-spring is depressed.

The invention consists of other novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter'and then pointed out in the appended claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 represents a practical embodiment of my invention, showing the two parts hooked together and in the position it will take when attached to a shoe or the like. Fig.2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section showing the two parts attached together and the manner in which the spring-tongue engages the flange on the edge of one of the openings.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig, 4 is a perspective view of the portion of the buckle which contains the eyes or openings. Fig. 5 isa perspective View of that portion of the buckle that contains the springhook. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view representing a central longitudinal sectional view of that portion of the buckle that contains the eyes or openings, showing the manner in which the stock around said openings are bent down, forming lips on each side thereof for engaging the hooked tongue on the opposite member of the buckle.

Referring to the drawings, the fastening device comprises, generally speaking, two members 1 and 2, one secured to each side or portion of the upper of a shoe or the like, the members slidably engaging each other and having means for locking them together in position so as to bring the sides of the shoeupper nearer together or hold them farther apart, as is desired.

The member 1 of the device, as will be seen from the drawings, has a convex upper surface made'somewhat rounding from edge to edge, said edges being turned up at-3 3, forming longitudinal grooves or channels on each side thereof. At one end of this member is a slot or opening 4, through which it maybe attached to the side of the shoe or the like. This member is also provided with a series of holes or openings 5 through its top portion, the stock around the edges of which being turned down at 6 in the formation of the same, forming a downwardly-projecting lip or flange-around the lower edge of said opening, which serves to engage and retain the hooked end of the spring-tongue 8, that extends down through from the upper member 2. As these holes are punched out their upper edges are nicely rounded over, thereby forming a guiding-surface to facilitate the inserting' of this hooked tongue through the opening when it is desired to attach the two members together. The upper member 2 is also made rounding, being concave on its under surface to correspond in form to the upper surface of the under member 1, over which it fits and slides longitudinally. On one end of this member is also a slot or opening 10, through which it is secured to the side of the shoe or the like. Each edge 7 7 along the side of this member is also slightly turned up, so that it will correspond with and fit into the longitudinal grooves on each side of the lower member, by which grooves said upper member is guided.

At 8 is a spring-tongue secured by rivets or other suitable means to the upper side or back of the said upper member 2. This tongue is raised or bent up from the point where it is secured and turns down nearly at right angles, projecting through the opening 9. its lower end being bent up in the form of a hook, and when the two members 1 and 2 are in place said bent-up end is hooked over the flange or turned-down edge 6, which surrounds the opening, securely locking the two members together.

Nhen my improved buckle is applied to a shoe, the upper portion is attached to one side and the lower portion to the opposite side thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The two sides of the shoe are drawn together by the hands, and that portion of the buckle containing the spring-hook is placed over the portion containing the openings, and said springhook is made to enter any one of said openings, and by a slight pressure of the thumb or linger on the top of the hook it is forced down and the turned-up end made to engage the under side of the bar which separates said openings, and the two parts are securely locked together. It is a very simple matter to disengage the buckle, which is done by a slight pressure of the linger on the spring, which releases the hook, and the two parts are separated.

I do not wish to be restricted to the exact construction herein shown and described, as many slight modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

A shoe-buckle constructed as herein described is not only both strong and durable, but is inexpensive and can be manufactured and placed upon the market at a comparatively small cost. It is positive in its action, and its simplicity of construction and ease of operation materially enhances the value of shoes to which such buckle is attached.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fastening device, an upper member, a hooked spring-tongue on said upper member, a lower member having a plurality of openings through it for the admission of said spring-tongue, and a downwardly-projecting edge or lip at each opening over which edge said spring-tongue may hook to lock the two members together.

2. Ina fastening device, an upper member, a hooked spring-tongue on said upper member, a lower member on which said upper member slides, said lower member having a plurality of openings through it for the admission of said spring-tongue, ribs or bars between the openings having means for engaging and retaining the hooked end of said spring-tongue after it has passed through said openings to lock the two members together.

3. In a fastening device, an upper member, a hooked spring-tongue on said upper member, a lower member having a plurality of openings through it for the admission of said spring-tongue, and bars or ribs between the openings,the hooked end of said spring-tongue arranged to engage the under side of said bar with an upward pressure whereby it is necessary to press said spring downward to release the same.

4. In a fastening device, an upper member, a hooked spring-tongue on said upper member, a lower member having a plurality of openings through it for the admission of said spring-tongue, and bars between the openings, a portion of said bars being turned down forming an edge over which the hooked end of the spring-tongue may catch to lock the two members together.

5. In a fastening device, an upper member, a hooked spring-tongue on said upper memher, a lower member on which said upper member is arranged to slide, said lower member having a plurality of openings and ribs or bars between said openings, said bars being beveled inwardly to facilitate the admission of the spring-tongue and also to form an edge over which the hook may catch, said hook being arranged to engage said downwardly-turned edge beneath the opening with an upward pressure whereby it is necessary to press said spring downward to release the same.

6. In a fastening device an upper member concaved on its under side, a hooked springtongue having one end fixed to said upper member, a lower member the upper surface of which is convex in transverse section to correspond to the form of the under side of said upper member which slides upon it, said lower member having a plurality of openings for the admission of said spring-tongue and a downwardly-projecting lip at the edge of each opening, the bent-up end of said springtongue being arranged to engage said downwardly-turned edge beneath the opening with an upward pressure whereby it is necessary to press said spring downward to release the same.

7. In a fastening device an upper member concaved on its under side, a hooked springtongue having one end fixed to said upper member, a lower member the upper surface of which is convex in transverse section to correspond to the shape of the under side of an upward pressure whereby it is necessary said upper member which slides upon it, said to press said spring downward to release the lower member having a plurality of openings same. for the admission ofsaid spring-tongue, and In testimony whereof I hereunto set my 5 ribs or bars between said openings, said bars hand this 9th day of February, A. D. 1904. 5

being bevelec inwarcly to facilitate the ad- 7 mission of the spring-tongue and also to form GEORGE PEIRLE' an edge over which the hook may catch, said In presence of hook being arranged to engage the down- HOWARD E. BARLOW,

IO wardly-turned edge beneath the opening with FRANK A. FOSTER. 

